Hohenems give EHC Kundl no chance – HC Kufstein cele­brate victory at Wattens Penguins

For the second time this season, SC Samina Hohenems and EHC Kundl faced each other in Division West on Friday. Both teams went toe to toe from the outset, with the Tyroleans taking an early lead on their first power play: new Slovak goal scorer Michal Kluka fired the puck into the top far corner following a superb solo effort (6').

A double strike within 65 seconds suddenly put the Ibex in front: first, Benjamin Kyllönen won the puck in the corner, drove to the net and scored the equaliser at the second attempt to make it 1:1 (10'). Lukas Fritz then finished off a fine combination from the slot to make it 2:1 (11').

Hohenems extended their lead to 3:1 on the power play in the second period. Christian Haidinger converted into an empty net following a fine combination down the left (27'). Christian Haidinger also scored the 4:1, converting a rebound from close range just before the halfway point of the game (30').

Things then turned feisty: the game was over for Kundl's Valentin Ploner and Hohenems player Noel Vetter, who each received a five-minute major and game misconduct penalty. The Vorarlberg side now controlled the game and headed to the dressing room with a three-goal lead after 40 minutes.

With the 4:1 scoreline behind them, Hohenems made a flying start to the final period, with Kundl goaltender Jakub Kostelny kept busy during this phase. After killing a penalty, Hohenems broke out well, with Christian Haidinger feeding Benjamin Kyllönen across the ice for him to make it 5:1 from close range (52').

Kundl's Michal Kluka was then found perfectly on the blue line. The Slovak went in alone on HSC goaltender Pascal Prugger and cut the deficit to 2:5 (54'). Just 33 seconds later, Ricards Purins was in exactly the right place to convert a rebound for the Schlittschuhclub, making it 6:2 (55'). Julian Payr sealed the 7:2 final score with a precise power-play shot (60'). Hohenems now face the big derby against EHC Lustenau on Monday, while Kundl host Wattens Penguins.

Comfortable away win for HC Kufstein at Wattens Penguins

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins and HC Kufstein also met for the second time this season in the Lower Inn Valley derby on Friday. The Dragons made a dream start: Herbert Steiner gave the visitors a 1:0 lead after exactly 25 seconds (1').

Kufstein then used their first power-play opportunity to extend their lead. Following a swift attack and a superb pass from Aleksi Airaksinen, Stefan Reiter scored with a backhand shot to make it 2:0 (9'). The hosts started the second period strongly: after an initial brief spell of pressure, the Penguins re-entered the offensive zone and Daniel Frischmann fired from the slot to make it 1:2 (22').

The game became more intense with every shift, with both teams playing offensively and creating chances. The fortress city side killed a penalty before Stefan Reiter hit top gear: the German top scorer completed a superb solo effort to make it 3:1 for Kufstein (31').

The Dragons again made a dream start to the final period: Aleksi Airaksinen made it 4:1 after just 47 seconds (41'). On the power play, Kufstein launched a swift attack and Manuel Eder extended the lead to 5:1 with a fine shot (52').

The visitors did not let up, quite the opposite: Patrick Hager made it 6:1 on the power play with just under a minute remaining (60'). Kufstein, who play in Dornbirn on Monday, are now third in the table and already twelve points ahead of Wattens Penguins, who travel to Kundl for the next Lower Inn Valley derby on the public holiday.

Ö Eishockey Liga – Division West:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Kundl 7:2 (2:1,2:0,3:1)
Fri., 05 December 2025, 19:00, Eisstadion Hohenems
SC Hohenems scorers: Benjamin Kyllönen (09:49', 51:10'), Lukas Fritz (10:54'), Christian Haidinger (26:48'/PP1, 29:28'), Ricards Purins (54:16'), Julian Payr (60'/PP1)
EHC Kundl scorers: Michal Kluka (at 05:20, PP1; at 53:43)

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. HC Kufstein 1:6 (0:2,1:1,0:3)
Fri., 05 December 2025, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens
Wattens Penguins goalscorer: Daniel Frischmann (at 21:23)
HC Kufstein goalscorers: Herbert Steiner (at 00:25), Stefan Reiter (at 08:46, PP1; at 30:37), Aleksi Airaksinen (at 40:47), Manuel Eder (at 51:39, PP1), Patrick Hager (at 59:03, PP1)

EHC Lustenau vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs
Sat., 06 December 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau - >> to the livestream

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. HC Kufstein
Mon., 08 December 2025, 15:00, Messestadion Dornbirn - >> to the livestream

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Lustenau
Mon., 08 December 2025, 18:00, Eisstadion Hohenems - >> to the livestream

EHC Kundl vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Mon., 08 December 2025, 19:00, Eisarena Kundl - >> to the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga - EAST Division:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. HDK Maribor
Sat., 06 December 2025, 19:00, WEV Arena, Heumarkt - >> to the livestream

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. ATSE Graz
Mon., 08 December 2025, 18:30, muki Arena Gmunden - >> to the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga began the new season with its opening matchday on 4 October 2025. In its fifth year, the format will undergo a change in phase 1 in the two divisions: West, with six teams, and East, with five teams. In the East Division, the coming season will feature a two-and-a-half-round home-and-away format, resulting in 20 games per team. In the West Division, as in the previous season, two home-and-away rounds will be played, likewise resulting in 20 games per team.

Following phase 1, there will once again be an inter-regional play-off, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The play-off pick will once again provide additional excitement after the regular season. The highest-placed team in each of the West and East Divisions may select its quarter-final opponent from the third- or fourth-placed team in the other division. From the quarter-finals through the semi-finals to the final, the play-off ties will be decided in best-of-three series (H/A/H) from the coming season onwards.

All Ö Eishockey Liga tables, statistics and fixtures in the Gamecenter

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